TODAY'S NEWS:MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2010

CRIMINAL ATTEMPT-HOMICIDE

A MAN NOW SITS BEHIND BARS IN SCHULKILL COUNTY AFTER ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO KILL ANOTHER MAN. SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 38-YEAR OLD-GEORGE PETRYLAK III ALLEGEDLY TELEPHONED WILLIAM J. PESAVAGE AND THREATED TO SHOOT HIM. HE THEN WENT TO PESAVAGE'S HOME WITH A 30-30 LEVER ACTION RIFLE, RAISED AND POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF PESAVAGE AND 37-YEAR-OLD STACEY M. FONSLICK AND FIRED. PETRYLAK HAS BEEN ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF CRIMINAL ATTEPMT, HOMCIDE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, DISCHARGING A FIREARM INTO AN OCCUPIED STRUCTURE, TERRORISTIC THREATS SIMPLE ASSAULT, AND RECKLESSLY ENDNAGERING ANOTHER. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. PETRYLAK'S BAIL WAS SET FOR $200,000.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE ARE NOW INVESTIGATING AN INICIDENT THAT HAPPENED AROUND 5PM SUNDAY. 25-YEAR-OLD DANIEL P. WILHELM AND 24-YEAR OLD RACHEL L. KADZIELA BOTH OF FRACKVILLE WERE ENGAGED IN A VERBAL ARGUMENT. AT SOME POINT, WILHELM GRABBED KADZIELA BY THE NECK AND PUSHED HER AGAINST A WINDOW. WHEN STATE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE HOME, WILHELM HAD ALREADY FLED THE SCENE. CHARGES TO BE FILED AGAINST WILHELM AT DISTRICT COURT 21-2-01 FOR HARASSMENT.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BREAK IN

TWO MEN FORCED THEIR WAY INTO THE LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MAHANOY TOWNSHIP BY SMASHING A REAR BASEMENT WINDOW. THE MEN TURNED OFF THE MAIN CIRCUIT TO THE BUILDING WHILE INSIDE, CUTTING ALL THE POWER. CARETAKER OF THE BUILDING, JOHN W. REED, PASSED THE BUILDING AND NOTICED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE OUT. REED ENTERED THE BUILDING AND HEARD THE TWO MEN TALKING. THE MEN THEN RAN OUT OF THE BUILDING AND REED FOLLOWED, THAT'S WHEN ONE OF THE MEN DROVE A RED DODGE RAM TOWARDS HIM. REED QUICKLY JUMPED OUT THE WAY UNHARMED. THE TWO MEN FLEED THE SCENE AND GOT AWAY WITH METAL CHOP SAWS, COPPER, AND VARIOUS OTHER ITEMS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL FRACKVILLE STATE POLICE AT 570-874-5300.

PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

A DRUNK MAN FLIPPED OVER A GUIDERAIL AROUND 1AM FRIDAY IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP. 48-YEAR-OLD KENNETH WETZEL OF SHAMOKIN WAS WALKING WHILE INTOXICATED AND STOPPED TO HAVE A CIGARETTE, THAT'S WHEN HE FLIPPED OVER A GUIDERAIL HE WAS USING AS A SEAT AND ROLLED DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. HE WAS STUCK UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED AND ASSISTED HIM. WETZEL WILL RECEIVE A SUMMONS IN THE MAIL FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENESS. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO SAINT CATHERINE HOSPITAL IN ASHLAND FOR MINOR INJURY TO HIS KNEE BY SHENANDOAH AMBULANCE.

DUI CRASH

A DUI CRASH PUT A MAN IN THE HOSPITAL FRIDAY NIGHT. JUST BEFORE 2AM, 22-YEAR-OLD BLAKE D. RINGLER FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A LEFT-HAND CURVE AND ENDED UP IN THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. AFTER SKIDDING ACROSS THE ROADWAY, HIS CAR ENTERED A PERSON'S YARD. RINGLER'S VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE BROADSIDE AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND GARAGE AREA OF THE HOME. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT AND SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES. RINGLER WAS TAKING TO HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER VIA LIFE LION.

CLICK IT OR TICKET

IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP PENNSYLVANIA'S HIGHWAYS SAFE DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE TROOP "L" WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL "CLICK IT OR TICKET" CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN WILL GO FROM NOVEMBER 15TH THROUGH THE 27TH.

ERIE, PA. (AP) - ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JACK DANERI SAYS A MAN AND WOMAN HAD APPARENTLY HAD SOME KIND OF ESTRANGEMENT BEFORE THEY AND TWO CHILDREN WERE KILLED IN WHAT AUTHORITIES BELIEVE WAS A MURDER-SUICIDE. A 2-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH A MINOR INJURY.

WASHINGTON, PA. (AP) - AUTHORITIES SAY SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD TO BE TREATED FOR SMOKE INHALATION AFTER A FIRE AT A WASHINGTON COUNTY HOTEL. OFFICIALS SAY THE 10-STORY GEORGE WASHINGTON HOTEL WAS EVACUATED ABOUT 10:30 A.M. YESTERDAY. OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THE BLAZE STARTED IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - PHILADELPHIA COURT OFFICIALS HAVE QUIETLY DROPPED CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST MORE THAN 19,000 DEFENDANTS WHO SKIPPED COURT YEARS AGO. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER SAYS THE ACTION HAS REDUCED A BACKLOG BUT IS DRAWING CRITICISM FROM VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATES.

HAGERSTOWN, MD. (AP) - PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM SIX STATES ARE GATHERING IN HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND TODAY TO DISCUSS THEIR COMMON CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE 81. THE I-81 CORRIDOR COALITION INCLUDES STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FROM PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA.

WASHINGTON (AP) - LAME-DUCK SESSIONS ARE USUALLY UNPOPULAR AND UNPRODUCTIVE. NOTHING SUGGESTS OTHERWISE THIS YEAR. THERE'S MUCH TO DO BEFORE YEAR'S END, STARTING WITH THE EXPIRING BUSH-ERA TAX CUTS TO AVOID HANDING SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASES TO MILLIONS. NO SPENDING BILL PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHILE DOCTORS FACE CRIPPLING CUTS IN MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF THE MAN ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING ELIZABETH SMART BEGINS ITS THIRD WEEK. BRIAN DAVID MITCHELL IS CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING AND UNLAWFUL TRANSPORTATION OF A MINOR ACROSS STATE LINES. IF CONVICTED, THE 57-YEAR-OLD ONE-TIME STREET PREACHER COULD SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN A FEDERAL PRISON. SMART WAS 14 WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN FROM HER HOME AT KNIFEPOINT AND HELD CAPTIVE FOR NINE MONTHS.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - NEW YORK DEMOCRAT CHUCK SCHUMER WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF HIGH LEAD CONTACT IN REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS MADE IN CHINA. THE SENATOR IS CONCERNED THAT AS THE
BAGS ACCUMULATE IN LANDFILLS THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION RISES.

NEW YORK (AP) - THE LATEST TREND IN DRUG TRAFFICKING IS DELIVERING THE GOODS BY JET. SOUTH AMERICAN GANGS ARE BUYING OLD JETS, STUFFING THEM FULL OF COCAINE AND FLYING THEM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO FEED EUROPE'S GROWING COKE HABIT. BECAUSE THERE IS NO RADAR COVERAGE OVER THE OCEAN, BIG PLANES CAN CROSS THE ATLANTIC VIRTUALLY UNDETECTED. THERE ARE FIVE SUCH CASES BEING PROSECUTED IN MANHATTAN.

BRUSSELS (AP) - A SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS NATO AND RUSSIA ARE READY TO CONCLUDE A SERIES OF AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO BOOST COOPERATION IN THE AFGHAN WAR. AMONG THE AGREEMENTS IS ONE THAT ALLOWS NATO TO SHIP NONLETHAL SUPPLIES FROM EUROPE TO AFGHANISTAN.